IPL 2026: When is the IPL 2026 auction? When is the retention deadline?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction for the 2026 season is slated to take place around December 13 to December 15, marking a crucial phase for franchises as they prepare to build their squads for one of the world’s most popular cricket tournaments. Ahead of the auction, the deadline for finalizing the list of retained players is set for November 15, giving teams a month to decide their core groups before entering the competitive bidding process.

IPL to coincide with PSL

This early timeline sets the stage for an intense build-up toward the IPL season, which, for the first time, will coincide with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next year. This would be interesting to see which players would choose which tournaments to play in.

Retention deadline and its significance

The November 15 retention deadline is a critical date for the eight IPL franchises. Teams have until then to lock in a set number of players who will remain with them for the upcoming season.

Finalizing the retention list early allows franchises to enter the auction with a clear understanding of their budget and positional needs, helping streamline their bidding approach. With many star players set to be available in the auction pool, franchises will have to navigate a fiercely competitive process, making this deadline more significant than ever.

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Which teams might look to swap players?

There are no signs of major changes across most teams, except possibly for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, who finished last season at the bottom of the table.

Reportedly, Chennai Super Kings may release players like Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, and even Devon Conway. The five-time champions have already added INR 9.75 crore to their budget following R Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL.

For the Rajasthan Royals, Sanju Samson remains a key player unless the team manages to negotiate a trade for their captain. There have been discussions about releasing their two Sri Lankan spinners, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, but with Kumar Sangakkara returning as head coach, this approach might change.

Players such as T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav, and David Miller might need to find new franchises, though nothing has been confirmed yet. Similarly, Venkatesh Iyer, who was the third most expensive buy at the previous auction, was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 23.75 crore.

Among the names generating significant interest is Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. Having missed the last auction due to injury, Green has already attracted attention from several teams and is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming auction.

When is the IPL 2026 auction?

Scheduled in mid-December, the IPL auction promises to be one of the most exciting and closely watched events in cricket. As per Cricbuzz, the IPL 2026 mini auction will be around 13-15 December 2025.